Drawing Basics: Costumes, Clothes or Nothing At All

We all know that drawing the nude figure is a, if not the,
classical way of depicting the human body. You gain so much from those kind of explorations--a sense of gesture, a foundation for drawing anatomy, and a close study of bodily proportions, which are crucial for establishing realism in any figurative representation. But breaking the mold and adding
clothing to your figure drawing art can lead to quite a few benefits.

You are able to add intrigue to a line drawing or drama to a
contour drawing and contribute to the overall message of the piece. It really
just gives you a bigger visual vocabulary to work with.

For example, Steven Assael often creates works with figures
in constricting or tight-fitting clothing, as a way to parallel or visual
represent the psychological complexities and internal conflicts within
everyone.

Other times clothing can exaggerate the gesture and movement
of a body. A swirling cape can give more force and power to a figure in a
street scene, for example. You get a sense of atmosphere that might otherwise
be missing without the garment.

Clothing can also link a drawing to a culture or a time and
place. If you are interested in drawings from the past with a more historical bent, or for the future,
clothing can enable you to achieve your ends. Clothing can make that narrative element clearer to your viewer than a figure whose clothing doesn't lend itself to a specific context. But always remember that the gesture and facial features or
body position of a figure drawing are really what will make it successful and
articulate, not just the clothing worn.

So many of us find both challenges and rewards when drawing people, which is why Drawing People for the Absolute Beginner is a resource that will never gather dust on my bookshelf. It is a foundational manual for anyone who wants to approach drawing people in an easily understood but comprehensive way. Enjoy!

Through easy-to-follow techniques, tips and step-by-step demonstrations, Mark and Mary provide guidance and encouragement for beginning artists to draw the clothed human figure. Readers will learn about materials, basic techniques, proportions, poses, clothing and more. Then, through 12-14 complete demonstrations, readers will learn how to draw people from a range of age groups and ethnicities. Simple compositions and a realistic style build confidence in beginning artists, giving them the skills they need to draw figures.